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Dave Ferrell is a third-generation Florida native and a graduate of the University of Central Florida with a bachelor’s degree in communications/journalism. He’s fished in almost every corner of Florida and in some of the most remote places in the world, all in pursuit of the best stories and the most incredible images. As a true Florida boy, it doesn’t matter if it swims in a ditch or an ocean, he likes to catch it; but he does have a true passion for chasing blue-water, big-game species of all types.
Traveling to and fishing in some of the best saltwater fishing holes in the world, Dave Ferrell loves to share his passion for the sea and its inhabitants through his words and photography. For 25 years he worked as the Editor of Marlin magazine, putting the exciting and beautiful world of offshore big-game fishing into your hands eight times a year. He also worked as Managing Editor of both Sportfishing and Marlin magazine for seven years before focusing on Marlin.
In addition to his extensive magazine work, Dave has also co-hosted the Chevy Florida Insider Fishing Report since its inception, producing the Off the Deep End tips segments and the new products segments at the Work Bench; and currently does the same for the Texas Insider Report as well. With his time at the magazine and one these two television shows, Ferrell has probably reviewed more saltwater fishing products than any other outdoor communicator.
He also found his passion for teaching the intricacies of big game sportfishing after starting and directing the world-renowned offshore fishing school, Marlin University.
Ferrell loves fishing Australia’s Great Barrier Reef for giant black marlin, trolling for numbers off the Coast of Venezuela or dipping a shiner into his favorite Central Florida lakes. During the Winter and Spring, you’ll most likely find him standing barefoot in the sand, chasing pompano somewhere between Cape Canaveral and Jupiter.
Dave Ferrell currently ekes out a living as freelance outdoor writer/photographer and avid surf fisherman in his hometown of Orlando, Florida.
My name is Nick Bergman (aka Surf Hippie Phishing). My passion for “all things fishing” began when I was three years old. We had moved to Jacksonville, NC. My first remembered experience involved an abandoned bridge, bucket, string, and chicken backs. We were crabbing. I never looked back. You might say, “I was hooked.” My dad was a school teacher and he worked summers with a friend who owned a charter fishing boat so I got to see fishing from land and sea.
By the time I was five I was hardcore. My friends (also five) and I walked, gear in hand, a three-mile pipeline to the beach, fishing every waterway we crossed. We had a blast. My parents had no clue.
The major turning point of my love of fishing happened when I was 12. We were staying at a beach house and we would usually stay out all day; however, the waves were 6-8 feet and the riptide was brutal. Everyone gave up but me. I’d throw my line out and plop my pole in the rod holder. After watching relentlessly, I noticed my bait, which had been moving quite swiftly down the beach, had stopped. That’s odd I thought. I noticed a little tug. I walked up to grab my rod and boom. What happened next has kept me searching ever since. My rod bent over and I was holding on for dear life. I walked back and forth up the beach. My adrenaline was pumping. I was going over and under lines and people were pulling in their lines to get out of my way. Then it happened, I saw it on the front of what felt like a 20 ft wave, swimming to the left. I had a hard time keeping control. About that time a huge waved crashed on my line and I knew it was over. Wait, he is still on as I felt him pulling once again. After a few minutes I finally landed him. It was the most beautiful thing I’d ever seen and none of my family had witnessed it. I was determined to take it a mile down the beach to show my people but everyone was telling me I had to release it. A woman stepped up and volunteered to take a picture. This was before cell phones and she just happened to have a camera. I agreed and the photo was taken and the beast released. The next day the woman came to see me and was so apologetic. She did not have film in her camera and the picture was lost. She told my parents about the epic battle but the proof was gone. The fish was measured before it was released. It was a 42 inch red drum caught on a 7 foot pier special and an old Penn reel.
Fishing is my passion and I want to share it with everyone. I have lots of memories from early on but you can start today and you can be any age. Fishing can last a lifetime.
And, I’ll never be caught without a way to take a picture!
John Shytle has come a long way since his roots in the Western North Carolina Foothills. Growing up hunting and fishing, he has transferred that love into a business. Transplanting to the Myrtle Beach area in 2021, he started Myrtle Beach Surf Fishing Adventures in 2022. John is on the beach daily with clients from April thru November when he’s not working his full time job at Charlotte Fire Department, but do not let this fool you, John is a true professional when it comes to surf fishing. His business has bloomed over his first season, coming into his second season, it is expanding more then ever. With two different package options from traditional surf fishing to drone fishing. John is a leader in the Myrtle Beach area when it comes to Surf fishing and the only Drone Fishing Adventure available. He provides everything you would need to go fishing, from rods and reels to bait and tackle, he even goes as far as to cast the rod. Leaving your family and friends with the joy of reeling in monster sharks, drum, and sting rays without any of the dirty work. John’s professionalism truly shines with his surf fishing clients as they learn a lot from each action packed Surf Fishing Adventure.
Hi, I am a lifelong fisherman and have cast a line around the Pacific Ocean waters. I live in New Zealand (just right of Australia). My home is in Napier on the east coast of the North Island.
I have tried all types of fishing and worked as a fishing guide at Lake Taupo for many years. I really enjoy sharing my fishing with others, new comers and experts alike. I have had ten books on fishing published which is one way to spread the word. I have represented New Zealand at the World Fly Fishing Championships in Wyoming USA, and the Salmon Fishing World Championships in Vancouver island in Canada. I host trips to Christmas Island (south of Hawaii) to fish for bonefish, Giant Trevally and a number of other species including sailfish and tuna. I am a keen fly fisher and have, and have had several New Zealand and world records fly fishing. The outstanding one which has since been defeated was for a Mako Shark of 53lb on an 8lb tippet.
At home my chosen sport these days is surfcasting. Taking my 4 wheeel drive up a lonely beach and camping out overnight is the greatest experience. We have a number of species of fish here including Trevally. Snapper, kahawai, kingfish (yellowtail), gurnard and moki. All these, and others, love Fishbites! I am learning fast how effective these baits are. Most species respond well to Fishbites fished in a similar way to pompano fishing in the US.
The exciting thing here is that Fishbites are unknown and introducing Fishbites to new anglers is a thrill. For them and me.
“Capt ” Randy made the permanent move south to Palm City, Florida, six years ago. Randy joins his Dad, “Capt” Paul Sperco on our pro staff. He spent many of his younger years fishing with Paul and catching bluefish, striped bass, fluke, and seabass on the inshore grounds off of Brielle, N.J. As he got older he expanded his fishing area to the canyons 70 to 100 miles off of New Jersey and targeted bluefin, yellowfin, and longfin albacore on overnight trips , both trolling and chunking for these gamefish. Randy now spends his days and nights pursuing and catching snook, bluefish, spanish mackerel, tarpon, and big jack crevalle from the bridges and catwalks in the Jensen Beach area. His main love is fishing the surf, like his Dad, and he has become an expert surf angler along the beach accesses in St. Lucie and Martin counties along the Treasure Coast. Pompano, whiting, croaker, bluefish, tarpon, snook, bonefish, and permit are all included on his catch list. He has also become a presenter and contributor on the seminar circuit with his father and is also guiding and doing surf charters in his local area.
Sean Lawless, known better for his YouTube Channel “The Lawless Tide”, was born and raised in landlocked Tulsa, Oklahoma. He didn’t make his first trip to Florida until 2017 and before that trip was over he and his family decided to move to Santa Rosa Beach, FL. Sean immediately fell in love with saltwater fishing and it became somewhat of an obsession. He has worked hard in his 5 years vacationing here learning the different techniques it takes to catch a variety of species from land, kayak and offshore. In 2021 Sean retired from the Fire Department and made the move permanent. Early on in his Saltwater excursions Sean began to document his adventures through his YouTube channel “The Lawless Tide”. To our knowledge it is the only Saltwater fishing channel ran from Oklahoma in YouTube history. Now that he permanently resides in Florida, Sean is able to get on the water 5-6 days a week and produce content at much greater pace. Sean loves all types of Saltwater fishing but his favorite is Kayak Fishing. Sean says “You get such a personal experience with the ocean when only have a small piece of plastic between you and the water and everything that swims beneath”. With that said, Sean does it all from Surf Fishing, Kayak Fishing, Bridge Fishing, Pier Fishing, Offshore or Inshore Fishing. Sean loves it all!! From catching Pompano on the beach to Black Fin Tuna in his kayak and Bonita off the jetties, Sean YouTube channel shows his viewers everything Florida’s fishery has to offer. Be sure to check him out and follow his adventures!
Para Ou aka the “Cambodian Angler” grew up in California targeting Largemouth Bass. At 14 years old he moved to Massachusetts and continued fishing the freshwater for Large Mouth Bass in the local reservoirs. After placing placed 1st and second place 2 years straight fishing a Youth Back to School Bass tournament in Lynn, Mass he was hooked. Para followed those wins up with a 1st place finish 4 times out of a 16 week season fishing local largemouth Bass tournaments. It was fishing for bass that Para fell in love with throwing artificial lures. He moved to Florida when turned 21 and has spent the last 20 years targeting Flounder, Pompano Sheepshead and Redfish in the Jacksonville area. Para is a local legend and runs the North Florida Inshore Slayers group on Facebook. This grassroots organization puts on several events throughout the year in an effort to keep anglers engaged with each other throughout the year. Kids are always welcome so check them out if you’re in the NE Florida area and are looking to get involved with the local fishing community.